Germany: Man dead after shootout with police in Saarland

Police said they had found the body of a suspect who had earlier engaged officers in a shootout lasting hours over much of Friday morning.

Authorities had sought to search the man's home in the town of Klarenthal, a suburb near the city of Saarbrücken in the western state of Saarland.

The suspect injured two of the officers after shooting at them from a window in his apartment. 

What happened in the shootout?

Authorities said in a statement that officers were executing a court order to search an apartment of a 67-year-old man when he barricaded himself in and opened fire.

One officer received medical treatment at a local hospital and a second officer was treated for injuries from shattered glass. 

The officer who was shot did not sustain life-threatening injuries, authorities said confirming earlier media reports.

After the initial gunfire rang out, police mistakenly labeled the situation "stable" but were made to reverse course.

Officers cordoned off the area and warned residents to stay in their homes and away from windows.

Why were police at the suspect's home?

Police and other city authorities from the agency responsible for hunting and firearms had gone to the man's home after a court order called for the seizure of any weapons or ammunition in his possession. After he had made clear he would not voluntarily turn in his firearms, authorities on Friday attempted to confiscate them.

Germany's mass-market Bild newspaper reported that the suspect was a hunter with more than 20 weapons in his home.

Local public broadcaster Saarländischer Rundfunk reported that police suspected the man of violating German gun laws, which was why any weapons were to be removed from his possession.

sms/rs (dpa, AFP)